Web tension equipment for printing presses



Dec. 7, 1943. H, L. MOCLEERY 2,336,112

WEB TENSION EQUIPMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 22, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 7, 1943. MccLEERY 2,336,112

WEB TENSION EQUIPMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES I Filed July '22, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 @"QJM 242 4 M Dec. 7 1943. H. 1 M CLEERY 2,336,112

WEB TENSION EQUIPMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 22, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 iuz/eufw ku 0/ZZL7// (Wee/ g, @"QJM M Dec. 7, 1943. H. L. MCCLEERY ,336,

WEB TENSION EQUIPMENT FOR'PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 22, 1940 e Sheets-Sheet 4 vi i.

Dec. 7, 1943. H, L, MCCLEERY 2,336,112

WEB TENSION EQUIPMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 22, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 k #aw/zlW- fi/eey \\\\\\\\Y////// wOJk/f i 2 Dec. 7, 1943. H. L. M CLEERY WEB TENSION EQUIPMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 22, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 a. W QM}? W m w 3 $49M LLM Patented '7,

WEB TENSION EQUIPMENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES Harold L. McCleery, Downers Grove, 111., assignor to Allan J. Cline, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 22, 1940, Serial No. 346,740

16 Claims.

Thll invention relates to web tension equipment of the general type disclosed in Cline et al. PatentvNo. 1,618,975 issued March 1, 1927, and provides various additional features of control and automaticregulation in connection with the fundamental elements disclosed in that patent.

,Said elements comprise primarily tension straps positionedto contact the surface of a web roll while the web is being drawn therefrom into the press, a torque motor for exerting the pull on said straps to tighten the same against the roll with the desired degree of tension, and means for controlling the torque of said motor, such means including a floating roller contacting the web at a point between the roll and the press, and devices actuated by the roller, as it changes position, to vary the torque of the motor.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide improvements andadditional features in tension equipment of this type, which will improve its efliciency and suitability for use in conjunction with modern high speed presses under conditions existing in the press rooms of newspapers of large circulation.

One of the particular objects of the invention is to provide a preselected value of running tension which will be automatically maintained as the roll decreases in size andwill compensate for any changes in the coefficientof friction between the paper and the tension straps or equivalent elements.

A further object is to provide, in apparatus of this character, corrective devices responsive to variations in tension of the running web to oil: set tendencies toward tension changes and thus maintain a practically constant web tension.

. Another object is to provide'means whereby the pre-selected range of normal tension (which may be a relatively small range as compared with the total range of movement of the floating roller) may be changed by the pressrnen from some remote point, such as a station in the press room, which is normally at a level above the reel room in which the web rolls are located. In this connection, provision is also made for preventing operation of such pro-selecting means from any point other than a designated station.

It is also an object of the invention to provide predetermined values of tension for quick stops and slowdowns which are difierent from and are other tension members upon the web roll is automatically reduced or terminated when predetermined tension is developed in the web.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses .a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly diagrammatic, of a typical reel and press unit with tension equipment embodying my invention applied thereto;-

Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the drum switch and differential mechanism employed in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, one of the side plates being broken away for convenience in illustration;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of said drum switch and differential mechanism taken substantially on the section line 3-3 in Fig. 2 and showing also the chain for driving the sprocket on the differential shaft;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken substantially on the section line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing the relativepositions of the various cams of the drum switch when properly set;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the section line 6-6 ofFig. 2 and illustrating a pilot motor and associated mechanism whereby one of the elements of the'differential may be adjusted; i

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing certain of the contact elements of the drum switch, the same being taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the electricalcircuits employed and the mechanical elements included therein, said elements being shown only schematicaly and in certain instances in somewhat different, though equivalent, form for clarity of illustration.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a standard three arm reel II is mounted on a Y-shaped supporting structure l2 of the press, and is adapted to support three web rolls l3, l4 and I5. The roll l3, as shown, is partially unwound, and the web lead I6 is shown passing over guide rollers l1 and a floating roller l8 and additional guide 23, said shaft also having secured thereto.

- For purposes of providing proper tension on the web, tension members acting on the surface of the web roll I3 are employed, being shown in the present instance as tension straps 24 held at their lower ends by springs 25 attached to the frame or base, and at their upper ends extending over a drum 26 on a cam shaft 21 adapted to be rotated in forward or reverse direction by means of a torque motor 28, having a driving connection with said shaft by means of sprockets 29 and 3| mounted on the motor shaft and said cam shaft 21, respectively, and a driving chain 32 taking over said sprockets. The pressure of the straps 24 (of which there are ordinarily several spaced across the length of the web roll) against the roll is thus governed by the torque transmitted to the drum 26 from said torque motor 28.

a counterweight 38 The action of the torque motor 28 is in turn governed through a controller indicated generally in Fig. 1 by the reference numeral 33, and through the action of the floating roller 8, the movement of which is transmitted to a drum switch control, generally indicated in Fig. 1 by the numeral 35, by a chain-and-sprocket connection 34 between the shaft 20 and said control.

An on and off switch 36 is provided in the reel room, being shown as mounted on the support l2, and is for the purpose of cutting off the power tothe torque motor and deenergizing all of the electric elements of the tension equipment when the reel tender wishes to drop the straps off the roll to permit leading the web into the press.

A remote control station 31 for adjusting or pre-selecting the various values of tension for running purposes is shown as mounted on the frame of the press unit 22, although, if desired,

this station may be mounted near the folder or on an adjacent column near the press, in which case all .of the tension stations for the several units of a press combination may be grouped together for convenient operation by the pressmen.

Suitable conduits 38 and 38' are provided for the electric wiring leading to and from the station 31, and branches 39 and 4| lead from said conduit 38 to the controller 33 and the drum switch control 35, respectively. A conduit 42 connects the controller 33 with the switch 36 and a conduit 43 connects said controller 33 with the main press controller (not shown).

The details of the drum switch contained in the housing 35 are illustrated in Figs. 2 to '1, in.- clusive.

Referring first to Figs. 2 and 3, a shaft 44 extends lengthwise through the housing 35 and has on an end thereof outside of said housing a sprocket 45 forming part of the chain-andsprocket drive 34 previously mentioned. Said shaft is thus rotated in accordance with the movement of the floating roller l8.

A differential mechanism is contained in said housing 35 at the inner end of said shaft 44 and comprises a central element 46 secured to said shaft 44, an element 41 secured to a sleeve or tube 48 rotatably mounted on said shaft 44, and an element 49 rotatably mounted on said shaft 44, the latter element being geared to a pilot motor mounted in said housing 35 and serving to effect adjustment of said differential elemeans of a pin 53, said shaft 52 having a central bracing and spacer member 54 secured thereto by means of pins 55 and having pinions 56 rotatably mounted on the outer ends thereof and meshing with the difierential gears 41 and 49. The member 41 is keyed to the hollow shaft or tube 48 by means of a key 51 and the member 49 is geared to the motor 5| by means of gearing comprising a ring gear 56 mounted on the shaft 44 concentrically with said member 49, a pinion 59 mounted on a stub shaft 6| and meshing with said gear 58, and back gearing contained in a housing 62 mounted adjacent, the end of the housing of the motor 5|, said back gearing being driven from the motor shaft in manner which is well-known in the art.

The hollow shaft or tube 48 is mounted on bearings 63 on the shaft 44, and keyed to said tube in addition to the differential member 41 are a number of cam assemblies indicated by the numerals 66, 61, 68, 69, 1| and 12. Adjacent said cam assemblies, but secured directly to the shaft 44, are two additional assemblies identified by the numerals 64 and 65.

The cam assemblies 66 to 69, inclusive, 1| and 12 include hubs 13 secured to the tube 48 by means of the key 51, and the assemblies 64 and 65 include hubs 14 which are secured to the shaft 44 by means of set screws 15. Said assemblies also include cam members 16 which are adjustably secured to the hubs 13 and 14 by means of tapered plugs 11 which extend into slots 18 in one side of the hubs 13 and 14 and serve to spread the diameter of the latter to cause them to expand within bore of the cams and thus lock the latter in place. By partially or completely removing the plugs, the diameter of the hubs is reduced sufficiently to permit circumferential adjustment of the cams.

The cam assemblies 64 to 69, inclusive, 1| and 12 serve to operate a corresponding number of switches, identified respectively, by the reference numerals 19 and 8| to 81, inclusive, which con. trol the operation of the torque motor 28 and associated electrical equipment in manner which will later be described. The construction of said switches is best shown in Fig. 4, from which it will be noted that they comprise pivoted members 88, each carrying a roller 89 on one side of a pivot 9| and a contact member 92 on the other side of said pivot, said contact member having a spring connection indicated at 93 with the pivoted member or arm 88, and being adapted to bridge contacts 94 mounted on binding posts 95. The roller 89 is held in contact with the appropriate cam 16 by means of a spring96 positioned between a fixed frame part 91 and a shoulder 98 on the member 88.

ment 49 in manner and for purposes which will hereinafter appear. The differential element 46 comprises a multi-diameter shaft 52 extending through the shaft 44 to which it is secured by Referring again to the differential mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the member 49 is adapted to be fixedly held in any adjusted position to which it may be moved by operation of the motor 5| (which maybe operated by the pressman from the station 31 or other remote point) and with said member set to a desired position, movement of the shaft 44 caused by movement of the floating roller l8 will operate the difierential member 46 which, through the pinions 56, will cause the differential member 41 to rotate forward or backard, thereby rotating therewith the cam assemblies 61 to 69, inclusive, 1| and 12. Inasmuch as the element 49 is held in fixed position by the back gearing previously described, the element 4] will be rotated by the element 46 at twice the angular speed of the latter.

Limit switches 99 and I are provided to restrict the total angular movement of the element 49 to a range corresponding to the total angular movementof the floating roller I8 in order to provide a range of pre-selected values of, tension which will always be within the operating range of the floating roller. Said range in a commercial embodiment of the invention employed by the applicants assignee is from zero to '72 degrees representing a weight curve for the floating roller building up from zero to approximately 200 pounds maximum in the web.

A potentiometer I02 (shown in Fig. 2 and in the diagram in Fig. 8) is geared by means of a gear I03 and the gear 58 to the differential member 49, and serves, in manner which will be hereinafter described, to provide at a remote point an indication of the relative angular'position of the floating roller, which in turn is an approximate indication of the relative amount of tension being carried in the web.

Instead of allowing the normal regulation of the torque motor 28 to be governed by the entire displacement of the floating roller, such regulation, in accordance with the present invention,

85, which, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, are

connected at spaced points to resistance I04 in the armature circuit of the torque motor 28. Said contacts are opened or closed in succession by one degree movement of the floating roller.

In the event the tension in the web is insufli- .cient to hold the floating roller within the five being in this event in clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 8, and serving to increase the field strength of said torque motor 28. The tension straps 24 are thereby tightened against the roll I3, thus providing an increased pull on the web which will bring the floating roller I8 back up to the position where the contact 81 will be opened and the regulation will again be accomplished through the armature contacts 83 to 86, inclusive.

In the event the tension in the web should increase to the extent that the floating roller- I8 is lifted beyond the pre-selected five degree range, the armature contacts 83 to 86, inclusive, will all be opened, after which the contact 82 will be closed, thereupon closing the circuit of the pilot motor I05 through a decrease field III, thereby operating said pilot motor in the reverse or decrease direction, moving the rheostat arm I01 in counter-clockwise direction to decrease the field strength of the torque motor 28. This will reduce the pressure of the tension straps 24 upon the roll I3 and correspondingly reduce the tension in a the web, allowing the floating roller to settle back to the preset five degree range with the contacts 82 and 81 open and with the regulation of the torque motor being accomplished through the armature contacts 83 to 88, inclusive.

For clarity of illustration, the contacts 19 and N to 81, inclusive, and the cams 64 to G9, inclusive, 1| and 12 are shown in somewhat different arrangement in the diagrammatic view,- Fig. 8, than they are in the other figures, and the differential elements, indicated in this figure by the reference character 46, 41' and 49', are shown as a lever system, the equivalency of which will be apparent to those skilled in mechanics.

As will now be evident, the selection of the five degree range of operation on the floating roller curve is accomplished by interposing the differential device, or equivalent lever system, between the cam shaft 48 and the shaft 44, which is directly operated by the floating roller I8. The selection may be made from a remote point, as the station 31, by operation of increase or decrease push buttons, identified in Fig. 8 by the numerals H2 and H3, respectively, which cause operation of the adjusting pilot motor 5I through its increase field H4 or its decrease field H5, as the case may be. By operation of said motor 5i in increase or decrease direction the five degree regulating range may be shifted up or down on the floating roller curve at the will of the pressman, the operation of the motor causing a change in the position of the differential element 49 and a consequent change in the angular displacement between the elements 41 and 46. As previously noted, the element 49 is held in any adjusted position by means of the back gearing associated with the motor 5|.

The relative position of the selected five degree range in the seventy-two degree range of the floating roller I8, or, in other words, the approximate amount of tension being carried in the web, is indicated at a remote point, preferably at the station 31, by means of a voltmeter I I6 controlled by the potentiometer I02 hereinbefore mentioned. The potentiometer arm, being directly connected to the member 49 of the differential, will move correspondingly from an oil or zero position, so the voltmeter reading will be in direct proportion to the displacement of said member 49 from its zero position.

Once the member 49 has been preset and the amount of tensionto which the operator wishes to regulate has been determined, the movement of the floating roller I8 on the difierential member 46 will rotate member 41 to operate the armature contacts of the torque motor 28 to obtain the necessary regulation. If the armature contacts 83-86 are unable to hold the floating roller within, the five degree range,'the contacts 82 or 81 will operate the pilot motor I05 to reset the field of the torque motor to the proper value as previously explained, so that the net torque from said torque motor will be sufilcient to hold the floating roller within the five degree pre-selected position.

Provision is also made for proper control of the tension in cases of emergency stops, slowdowns and pasters, the latter termbeing applied to the joining of the web of a new or replacement roll to the web running to the press from an expiring roll. The means whereby such control is accomplished are illustrated primarily in Fig. 8.

When an emergency stop is required, braking is applied to the press, which results in the energizing of a stop" relay II1 rhich is connected to the main press control (not shown). A contact H8 in the circuit shown in said Fig. 8 (in which the positive and negative sides of the supply line are indicated by the letters a: and 3/,

- respectively) is thereby closed and provides additional voltage to the armature of the torque motor 28. A contact H9 is also closed by this relay to provide additional field strength through 'is in this circuit and is set to open at about a thirty-five degree position of the floating roller I8, said contact being independent of the difierential mechanism previously described and thus not affected by any changes in the adjustment of the latter. Therefore if too much stop tension is obtained and the web pulls the floating roller beyond the thirty-five degree position, the contact 19 opens and thereby inserts a resistance I23 in the shunt field circuit to decrease the amount of torque provided by the torque motor 28. This allowsthe floating roller to settle down, which in turn again closes the contact I9, so that duringthe stopping period said contact, which is opened and closed by the cam assembly 64, acts as an automatic regulator for the amount of stop tension.

The closing of the contact II8 by the stop relay III causes short-circuiting of the normal regulating resistance I04 of the torque motor circuit in case of an emergency stop to insure suflicient current to the torque motor armature for the preset-stop tension. The tension value can be regulated by cutting in or out a resistance element I24 in this short circuit by means of a roll length switch I25, which may be amanuall'y operated toggle switch. For full and threequarter length rolls said switch is closed to short out said resistance I24, whereas for half and quarter length rolls the resistance is inserted by opening the switch.

During a normal slowdown or decrease of the press speed a decrease relay I26 is energized (by a coil on the main control) and this provides the proper amount of decrease tension through the same contact I9 which controls the tension on an emergency stop. A contact I2I on this relay is closed when the relay coil is energized, thus closing a circuit through a decrease tap changer I28 and the rheostat I08 of the torque motor field. Simultaneously a contact I28 is opened to prevent the pilot motor I05 from being operated, in the increase direction. Also a contact I3I is closed, which energizes the decrease field III of the pilot motor I05, provided the large motor on the press is running and the circuit is' closed by means of an interlock I32 (which is shown in Fig. 8 although normally located on the, main control panel). Thereupon the arm I01 of the rheostat I 08 in the torque motor field will be automatically brought back to the oil position in order to insure that when the press is restarted there will be a minimum of tension in the web until. a running speed is attained.

It is also necessary that the pilot motor I05 bring the rheostat arm -II back to the 0115" position in case of an emergency stop of the press, and since the interlock I32 is open during the stopping period (by reason of the fact that flthe mainmotor is not running), the circuit is completed to accomplish this purpose by means of a'jthird contact,-numbered I33, on the stop relay 1. On an emergency stop the decrease relay I26 is energized as well as the stop' relay Ill, and therefore the pilot motor I receives energy through the contact I3I and the degrease field III, the circuit being completed through the armature of said pilot motor I05 and the contact I33 on the stop relay to the negative side 12 of the supply line. This will cause rotation by the motor in the decrease direction to bring the rheostat arm I01 to its off" position, thus insuring that when the press is restarted there will be a minimum amount of tension in the web. As will be understood, the tension will be automatically restored to the pre-selected value when the interlock I32 is closed at the time the large press motor begins running. Thereafter the pilot motor I05 will receive energy when occasion requires either through the contact 82 or the contact 81 to reset the torque motor field rheostat I08 to the proper position for normal regulation of the torque motor through the armature contacts 83 to 86, inclusive, of the drum switch within the pre-selected five degree range on the floating roller curve.

For providing the right value of tension for making pasters, a third relay I34, called the paster relay, is provided. This relay is adapted to be energized by means of a push button I35 and when energized opens a contact I36 in circuit with the arm I0I of the rheostat I 08, thereby deenergizing said arm.

The energizing of this relay also opens a contact I31 which is normally closed and is in series with the contact I21 on the decrease relay I26. The opening of said contact I31 insures that the decrease tension will be out out.

A third contact I38 is provided on the paster relay and is closed when the relay coil is energized, thereby closing a circuit to the drum switch contact 8! which is associated with the cam assembly 65. This contact is associated with the floating roller in manner similar to the contact I9 except that it is set for opening at about a twenty-five degree position of the floating roller.- When said contact BI is closed at the time the paster relay is energized, current will flow through the contact I38, a paster tap changer or pre-adjusting dial I39 and the proper amount of resistance in the rheostat I22 to the torque motor shunt field I09. As operation of the torque motor increases the tension and causes the floating roller I8 to be lifted to approximately the twenty-flve degree position, the contact 8| will be opened by reason of the position of the cam 65, and this will cause insertion in the torque motor field circuit of a regulating resistance identified by the numeral I4I, thereby decreasing the pull on the web as a result of the lessening of the torque applied by the torque motor 28, and allowing the floating roller to settle back to a position where the contact 8| is again closed. This contact thus becomes an automatic regulator for the value of the paster tension.

The regulating resistances I23 and HI are shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings in the form of resister tubes identified by corresponding refer-.

ence numerals.

The cams 64 to 69, inclusive, II and I2 are shown in Fig. 8 as in the starting or zero position thereby lessening the amount of torque required of the torque motor 28. To compensate forthis increased strap tension a relay I42, a contactor I43 and a resistor I44 are provided in the torque motor armature circuit (see Fig. 8)

The relay I42 is connected in parallel with a forward contactor coil I49 of the reel rotation controller I63 (see Fig. 1), so that said relay is energized automatically when the reel is rotated in forward direction. This results in opening the contacts I43 and thus inserting the resistance I44 in the armature circuit of the torque motor 26 to reduce the tension or torque produced thereby to a predetermined value suitable for this condition. When the new roll reaches its running position and is running normally, the relay I42 is automatically deenergized (by release of a forward contactor button I45 of the reel controller I63, or in other suitable manner) and this allows the contacts I43 to close, thus shunting out the resistance I44, with consequent increase in the torque applied by the motor 28.

To further illustrate the means whereby said relay I42 is operated as just described, I have showndiagrammatically in the lower right-hand portion of Fig. 8 the reel rotation motor, indicated by the reference numeral I50, and the connections for forward and reverseoperation thereof, together with the connections to said relay I42. Said motor I50 is fed from a separate source of power, the positive and negative lines of which are identified, respectively, by the numerals I6I and I62, this being desirable because a different voltage is ordinarily used for the reel rotation than that employed for the tension circuit and because alternating current is sometimes used instead of direct current which is customarily employed for the tension circuit. The forward operation of said motor is controlled by the forward contactor button I45 and the forward contactor coil I49 above mentioned, and the reverse operation is controlled by a reverse contactor button I46 and reverse contactor coil I54. A relay II, operated by the forward contactor coil I49, is provided with contacts I52 and I53 for connecting themotor through wires I58 and I59 with the positive and negative sides of the line, respectively, and a relay I55, operated by the reverse contactor coil I54, is provided with contacts I56 and I51 for connecting said motor to the positive and negative sides of the line, respectively, when the reverse contactor button I46 is actuated. The reverse contactor button I46 is connected with the coil I54 by wire I46, and the forward contactor button I45 is conby wiring in a conduit I64, for the purpose of making interconnection between the coil I42 and the forward rotation contactor I45, as above described.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to claim by Letters Patent is:

1. Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of. a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the Web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, and means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, said means including devices for limiting the normal regulating range of said floating roller to a relatively small motor operatively connected to said strap for nected with the coil I49 by wire I41. Said wire I41 has a branch I41 connecting with one end of the relay coil I42, and the other end of said coil is connected to the negative side of the supply line by wire I40. It will thus be apparent that when the circuit is closed by pressing the forward contactor button I46, said relay I42 will be energized and release of said button will result in de-energization'of said coil I42, as above stated.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the reel rotation motor I50 mounted upon a bracket I50 secured to the upright I2, said motor being connected by a chain I66 with a sprocket I61 on the reel shaft I10. The forward and reverse rotation station is shown in blocked-in form at I and is connected to the motor I50 by wiring in a conduit :58. ward and reverse rotation station is connected wlh the reel rotation controller I63 by wiring contained in a conduit I65, and said controller I63 is connected with the tension controller 33 Said for- I applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, said means including devices for limiting the normal regulating range of said floating roller to a relatively small part of its total permitted range of angular displacement, and means for adjusting said limited regulating range up or down within said total range.

3. Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to-said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, and means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, including devices for limiting the normal regulating range of said floating roller to a relatively small part of its total permitted range of angular displacement, said means comprising regulating resistance arranged to be included in variable amount in the circuit of said torque motor, a series of contacts connected with said resistance, means operated through the action of said floating roller to operate said contacts and thereby control the amount of resistance in the circuit in accordance with the position of the fioating roller, and a differential mechanism, one element of which is connected to said contact operating means to actuate thesame and another element of which is connected with said floating roller to be actuated thereby, whereby said normal regulating range may be narrowed as aforesaid.

4. Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface nected with said resistance, means operated through the action of said floating roller to operate said contacts and thereby control the amount of resistance in the circuit in accordance with the position of the floating roller, a differential mechanism, one element of which is connected to said contact operating means to actuate the same and another element of which is connected with said floating roller to be actuated thereby, whereby said normal regulating range may be narrowed as aforesaid, and means for adjusting the position of one of the members of said differential whereby the said limited regulating range of the'floating roller may be moved up or down within said total permitted range of angular displacement thereof.

5. Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, and means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, including devices for limiting the normal regulating range of said floating roller' to a relatively small part of its total permitted range of angular displacement, said means comprising regulating resistance arranged to be included in variable amount in the circuit of said torque motor, a series of contacts connected with said resistance, means operated through the action of said floating roller to operate said contacts and thereby control the amount of resistance in the circuit in accordance with the position of the floating roller, a diiferential mechanism, one element of which is-connected to said contact operating 'means to actuate the same and another element of which is connected with said floating roller to be actuated thereby, whereby said normal regulating range may be narrowed as aforesaid, and means including a pilot motor and means whereby the same may be controlled by the pressman from a remote point for adjusting the position of one of the members of said 'diflerential whereby the said limited regulating range of the floating roller may be moved up or down within said total permitted range of angular displacement thereof.

6. Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, and means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor,including devices for limiting the normal regulating range of said floating roller to a relatively small part of its total permitted range of angular displacement, said means comprising regulating resistance arranged to be included in variable amount in the circuit of said torque motor, a series of contacts connected with said resistance, means operated through the'action of said floating roller to operate said contacts and thereby control the amount of resistance in the circuit in accordance with the position of the floating roller, a differential mechanism, one element of which is connected to said contact operating means to actuate the same and another element of which is connected with said floating roller to be actuated thereby, whereby said normal regulating range may be narrowed as aforesaid, means for adjusting the position of one of the members of said differential whereby the said limited regulating range of the floating roller may be moved up or down Within said total permitted range of angular displacement thereof, and means controlled by said adjusting means for indicating at a. remote point the relative position of the preselected normal regulating range of the floating roller.

7. Web tension equipment for printing presses I comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, and means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, including devices for limiting the normal regulating range of said floating roller to a relatively small part of its total permitted range of angular displacement, said means comprising regulating resistance arranged to be included in variable amount in the circuit of said torque motor, a series of contacts connected with said resistance, means operated through the action of said floating roller to operate said contacts and thereby control the amount of resistance in the circuit in accordance with the position of the floating roller, a differential mechanism, one element of which is connected to said contact operating means to actuate the same and another element of which is connected with said floating roller to be actuated thereby, whereby said normal regulating range may be narrowed as aforesaid, means for adjusting the position of one of the members of said differential whereby the said limited regulating range of the floating roller may be moved up or down within said total permitted range of angular displacement thereof,

and means controlled by said adjusting means,

for indicating at a remote point the relative position of the preselected normal regulating range of the floating roller, said last-mentioned means comprising a potentiometer including an arm movable in unison with said adjusting means and a voltmeter, the reading of which is determined by the position of said arm.

8. Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apronarranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, said means including devices for limiting the normal regulating range of said floating roller to a relatively small part of its total permitted range of angular displacement, and means including a pilot motor connected with said devices for operation thereby at the upper and lower limits of said range for varying the torque of said torque motor to thereby vary the tension in the web and thus bring said floating roller back within said normal regulating range in case it moves out of thesame in either 3 direction.

9. Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, and means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, including devices for limiting the normal regulating range of said floating roller to a relatively small part of its total permitted range of angular displacement, said means comprising regulating resistance arranged to be included in variable amount in the circuit of said torque motor, a series of contacts connected 'with said resistance, means operated through the action of said floating roller to operate said contacts and thereby control the amount of resistance in the circuit in accordance with the position of the floating roller, a differential mechanism, one element of which is connected to said contact operating means to actuate the same and another element of which is connected with said floating roller to be actuated thereby, whereby said normal regulating range may be narrowed as aforesaid, and means including a pilot motor connected with said devices for operation thereby at the upper and lower limits of said range for varying the torque of said torque motor to thereby vary the tension in the web and thus bring said floating roller back within said normal regulating range in case it moves out of the same in either direction.

10. Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the webroll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, and means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the' action of said motor, said means including switch contacts operated by said floating roller, regulating resistance arranged to be included in variable amount in the circuit of said torque motor by operation of said contacts to control the action if said motor under normalrunning conditions,

stop relay, means controlled by the energizing of said stop relay for causing said torque motor to apply the proper degree of stop tension, and means including a regulating contact operated by the floating roller upon movement thereof to a predetermined extentaftersaid stop relay has been energized to decrease the torqu applied by said torque motor, thereby providing automatic regulation of the stop tension.

11. Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is'drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause th same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the webroll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, said means including switch contacts operated by said floating roller, regulating resistance arranged to be included in variable amount in the circuit of said torque motor by operation of said contacts to control the action of said motor under normal running conditions, a stop relay, means controlled by the energizing of said stop relay for causing said torque motor to apply the proper degree of stop tension, and means including a regulating contact operated by the floating roller upon movement thereof to a predetermined extent after said stop relay has been energized to decrease the torqu applied by said torque motor, thereby providing automatic regulation of the stop tension, and a roll-size selector switch for preselecting the stop tension for difierent length rolls.

12. Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, and means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, said means including switch contacts operated by said floating roller, regulating resistance arranged to be included in variable amount in the circuit of said torque motor by operation of said contacts to control the action of said motor under normal running conditions, a paster relay, means controlled by the energizing of said paster relay for causing said torque motor to apply the proper degree of paster tension, and means including a regulating contact operated bythe floating roller upon movement thereof to a predetermined extent after said paster relay has been energized to de crease the torque applied by said torque motor, thereby providing automatic regulation of the paster tension.

13. Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, and means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, said means ineluding switch contacts operated by said floating roller, regulating resistance arranged to be included in variable amount in the circuit of said torque motortby operation of said contacts to control the action of said motor under normal running conditions, a movable support upon which a replacement roll is mounted, a relay automatically operable upon movement of said support in bringing the replacement roll into running position against said strap, and means controlled by saidrelay for temporarily increasing the amount of resistance in said circuit and thus decreasing the torque of the motor at the time of such movement of said replacement roll against said strap.

14. Web tension equipment for printingpresses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll from which the web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the Web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, and means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, said means including a series of contacts and regulating resistance for normal control of the torque applied by said motor, a field for said torque motor, a field rheostat, a pilot motor for controlling the latter, a stop relay, means controlled by opera-' tion of said stop relay for regulating the strength of said torque motor field to provide the proper degree of tension for an emergency stop and for causing said pilot motor to adjust said rheostat to insure that the torque motor will apply a minimum of tension to the web when the same is being rethreaded preparatory to the next run asaana face of the web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, and means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, said means including a series of contacts and regulating resistance for normal control of the torque applied by said motor, a field for said torque motor, a field rheostat, a pilot motor for controlling the latter, a decrease relay, means controlled by operation' of said decrease relay for regulating the strength of said torque motor field to provide the proper degree of tension for a normal slowdown and for causing said pilot motor to adjust said rheostat to insure that the torque motor will apply a minimum of tension to the web when the same is being rethreaded preparatory to the next run of the press.

16. .Web tension equipment for printing presses comprising a strap or friction apron arranged to press against the surface of a web-roll fromwhich the, web is drawn into the press, a torque motor operatively connected to said strap for applying a continuous strain thereto to cause the same to exert a braking force upon the surface of the web-roll, a floating roller positioned to contact the web and being movable in accordance with the amount of tension therein, means controlled by the movement of said roller to regulate the action of said motor, said means including a series of contacts and regulating resistance for normal control of the torque applied by said motor, a field for said torque motor, a field rheostat, a pilot motor for controlling the latter, a stop relay, means controlled by operation of said stop relay for regulating the strength of said torque motor field to provide the proper degree of tension for a stop and for causing said pilot motor to adjust said rheostat to insure that the torque motor will apply a minimum of ten sion to the web when the same is being rethreaded preparatory to the next run of the press, and means for automatically increasing the tension from said minimum to a preselected regulated value when the press attains a running speed.

HAROLD L. McCLEERY. 

